Now You Can Get Subsidized Tomatoes at Rs 70/kg at Your Doorstep Through ONDC

In a bid to provide relief to consumers amidst a sharp rise in tomato prices across the country, the National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India Ltd (NCCF) has collaborated with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to sell tomatoes at a subsidized rate of Rs 70 per kilogram. This move comes after the central government directed marketing agencies NAFED and NCCF to reduce tomato prices from Rs 80 to Rs 70 per kg.

The initiative, launched on Monday, allows consumers to place their tomato orders through ONDC's buyer apps, including Paytm, Magicpin, Mystore, and Pincode. The user-friendly interface facilitates easy ordering, and consumers can place their orders from 9.30 am to 3.30 pm daily, with doorstep delivery at no extra cost, scheduled for the next day. Each order is restricted to a maximum of 2 kg of tomatoes.

Tomato prices had seen a significant surge, reaching as high as Rs 150-200 per kg in major cities across the country. In response to this, the central government directed NCCF and NAFED to procure tomatoes from mandis in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra and sell them at a subsidized rate of Rs 70 per kg.

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The rise in tomato prices was attributed to the monsoon season, which presented challenges in distribution and led to increased transit losses. To tackle the issue, the government aimed to provide affordable tomatoes to consumers in major consumption centers.

The ONDC platform goes beyond the traditional platform-centric digital commerce model, allowing buyers and sellers to engage in business transactions without being limited to a single platform or application. This approach has enabled NCCF to partner with ONDC to offer subsidized tomatoes, providing much-needed relief to consumers facing soaring vegetable prices.

The collaboration between NCCF and ONDC is seen as a step towards leveraging digital solutions to address market challenges and provide essential commodities at affordable rates. As the initiative takes off, it is expected to ease the burden on consumers and contribute to stabilizing tomato prices in the market.

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